Five Ways That You Can Stay Healthy When You’re Traveling

Traveling is one of the best possible ways to broaden your mind and to cram in as many experiences into your life as you can. Different people want to travel to different places – some might want to trek in the Andes, while others are more likely to take in the historical sights of a bustling European capital city. But no matter what sort of break is your favourite, it’s important to make sure that you enjoy it as much as possible, and one of the best ways to do that is by ensuring that you stay healthy while you’re travelling. Here are some tips on how you can do that…

Talk To Your Traveling Companions

First of all, make sure that you talk to your travelling companions about what exactly you expect from your trip. This may be a whole lot easier if you’re travelling with your partner of ten years than if you’re going on a trip with a group of friends, but even if you think you know what to expect from them, communication is key to an excellent vacation. Get together before the trip happens and make lists on what exactly you’d like to do while you’re there. Compare ideas on even simple things, like what time you want to get up each day, whether you want to share rooms, and a few key attractions that you’d like to see. It’s also important to make sure that you compare your budgets. Some people like to be thrifty on vacation, while others like to splash out on luxury. If you have communicated beforehand about what your expectations for your trip are, nobody will be disappointed when you actually get there.

Do Your Research Beforehand

It’s great to play it by ear when you go on a trip, and it’s important to make sure that you explore your destination as much as you can, but it’s also a good idea to do your research before you depart. Nobody’s saying that you need to plan a detailed itinerary for every day that you’re there, but it’s important to scope out the area you’re staying, so you know how safe it is, and how you’ll get home at night, and whether you need to budget money for taxi fares. It’s a smart idea to research the country you’re going to on a site like No Majesty so that you can figure out the political situation there – you want to make friends, not enemies, if you get chatting to new people! If you have dietary requirements, check out restaurants where you can get that delicious gluten-free or vegan food so that you don’t spend too much time trailing around and being disappointed by various menus.

Prepare For The Climate

Make sure that you check out the weather before you leave. This might sound basic, but it will inform what you pack – will you need a raincoat? Will you need to wear boots and socks every day or can you stick to sandals? It will also inform some of the things that you plan to do. If it’s going to be blisteringly hot, it definitely isn’t a good idea to spend the whole day hiking or exploring outdoor areas, for example. Make sure that you pack sunscreen – you should wear this every day no matter what the weather’s like! – and blister plasters for new shoes, along with a hat and good sunglasses that will protect your eyes. There’s no better way to ruin a trip than getting heatstroke or bad sunburn on your first day.

Stay As Food-Conscious As You Can

Everyone wants to enjoy themselves when they’re on a trip, but it’s good to pace yourself a little. Treat yourself to that chocolate crepe, but make sure that you also eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. This is partly so that you stay healthy in the long-term, but also so that you’re able to enjoy your trip as much as possible. If you usually eat healthy food, suddenly making a huge dietary change to heavy, creamy foods won’t do you any good, and you don’t want a stomach ache to ruin your holiday.

Cut Yourself A Break

Finally, remember to relax. A lot of people love to spend their vacations exploring, and it’s a great idea to get to know a new place. But life is busy, and you should also make sure that you use this opportunity to relax. Sit at a cafe in the shade and watch the world go by, take naps in your hotel room during the hottest part of the day, and take some time out to relax. There’s no point in going away and then getting home even more burned out than when you left!

There are few experiences that are better for you physically, mentally and spiritually than getting away from your everyday life so that you can travel and take in the rest of the world. These tips should keep you happy, safe and healthy for the whole time that you’re away.

Becky is an interior designer, an adjunct professor, a foodie, a product reviewer and a gluten free blogger in Detroit, Michigan. Week99er is a family friendly site featuring products, events and recipes for your family. Contact her at [email protected]